If a loved one has suffered a stroke, it’s natural to be concerned about them recovering as quickly as possible. The stroke and its physical and psychological effects are traumatic for the victim and family members, and everyone’s hope is for a speedy recovery.

What’s the best place for a rapid recovery for stroke victims? Is it in a hospital, where healthcare workers provide round-the-clock care, or is it at home where care hours are flexible and offered by trained professionals? The answer may surprise you.

For decades, researchers at the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester, Minn., have been studying strokes and stroke recovery. Over time, they’ve found that patients who spend their first ten days in the hospital and then return home to complete their recovery had better indications of recovery than those in a traditional hospital rehab program.

Researchers say that focusing a patient’s recovery around their home can improve patient morale and get patients back to their everyday lives quicker.

Increasing the Chance of Fast Stroke Recovery at Home

The severity of the stroke will impact the duration of the rehab necessary for a fast recovery. You can’t influence that, but there are some steps you can take to increase the pace at which your loved one recovers. Here are four of them:

1. Don’t Overdo Physical Activity

It may be tempting for both you and your loved one to do as much physical activity as possible to quicken their recovery. But, too much can cause injuries that will slow down the recovery process, not speed it up. Your loved one needs to be consistent with safe physical activities and only increase the challenges as their abilities grow stronger to speed up the process.

2. Follow a Healthy Diet

Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids are best for older adults, including salmon, olive oil, hemp, spinach, walnuts, and mackerel. Legumes, blueberries, and various flavonoid-rich foods can also improve brain health and speed up stroke recovery. In addition, following a healthy diet can prevent obesity, which is a condition that can decrease the production of new neurons, so your loved one should avoid high-calorie foods.

3. Get Plenty of Rest

Poor sleep can slow the recovery process for senior stroke survivors. Rest is vital because this is when the body and brain experience significant healing. When seniors have restless nights, they’ll be drowsy throughout the day, lowering their energy levels and decreasing their physical activity. To speed up recovery, your loved one must avoid developing sleep-related breathing disorders, insomnia, and sleep-wake cycle disorders, which are common in stroke survivors.

4. Use Respite Care

If your loved one chooses to go home, they’ll need someone there to help with daily activities and monitor their health. Using respite care is advantageous because your loved one can request a care worker specializing in stroke recovery. This person will have the training and education necessary to keep your loved one on the right path as they work to regain verbal abilities, mental clarity, and mobility.

Let Us Help With Stroke Recovery at Home

Colonial Home Care Services can assist seniors with a wide array of daily tasks, offering family caregivers the chance to focus on other personal responsibilities or take a break to prevent burnout. Whether it’s for a few hours a day or a few days a week, respite care is the perfect solution for family caregivers who are feeling overwhelmed.

Reach out to us at Colonial Home Care Services if you need compassionate, professional care for your loved one. Call today to learn about the high quality of our stroke care services.